Magnetic retrieving tool

ABSTRACT

A magnetic retrieving tool which comprises an elongated handle, an elongated magnetic member and a hinge means. The hinge means secures the magnetic member to the handle and has means to maintain the magnetic member at a fixed angle with respect to the handle. The hinge means enables the magnetic member to be moved with respect to the handle without any adjustments made to the hinge means.

United States Patent [72] inventor Smith Kyser [56] References CitedOTHER REFERENCES NO 71969 Sears. Roebuck and Co. Catalog #219, Fall &Winter.

I95 Patented June I 1971 .9 Philadelphia. Pa.. Page 1483 94 65.5 [73]Assignee Aircraft Specialties, Inc. Primary Examiner-Gerald M. ForlenzaLapeer, Mich. Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham AttorneyCaesar,Rivise, Bernstein and Cohen [54] MAGNETIC RETRIEVING TOOL 2 Chums 3Drawmg Flgs' ABSTRACT: A magnetic retrieving tool which comprises an[52] US. Cl 294/19, elongated handle, an elongated magnetic member and ahinge 16/140, 294/655 means. The hinge means secures the magnetic memberto the [5 1] Int. Cl Fl6c 11/04 handle and has means to maintain themagnetic member at a [50] Field of Search .4 294/655, fixed angle withrespect to the handle. The hinge means enal9, 19.1,24,23.5,23, 22,21,20;16/138, 139, bles the magnetic member to be moved with respect to the140, 141 handle without any adjustments made to the hinge means.

PATENTED JUN nan 3582.123 D G: 3 IN l/EN TOR .SM/ TH KYSE'R ATTORNEYS.

MAGNETIC RETRIEVING TOOL This invention relates generally to magneticretrieving tools and more particularly to a magnetic retrieving toolhaving hinge means which enable quick adjustment of the magnetic portionof the retrieving tool with respect to the handle without requiringbutterfly nuts and other tightening means for maintaining the angle withrespect to each other.

Magnetic retrieving tools are utilized to remove magnetic particles fromdifficult to reach places. That is, in such inaccessible places as acrank case in an automobile, abrasive metal particles are often requiredto be removed. Elongated magnetic retrieving tools are specifically madefor these purposes. However, conventional magnetic retrieving toolsrequire constant adjustment of the disposition of the magnetic head withrespect to the handle. That is, both the head of the tool and the handleare elongated and must be movable with respect to each other so that themagnetic tool can pass through curved paths. Consequently, the head ofthe retrieving tool and the handle must be bent with respect to eachother at different angles for different types of retrieving operations.

A typical hinge between the magnetic head and the handle normallycomprises a journal means for receipt of a butterfly nut assembly whichenables the head of the tool to pivot with respect to thehandle aboutthe axis of the nut. When the angular disposition between the handle andthe head are changed, the butterfly nut must be unloosened, and when thecorrect angle is obtained, the nut must be tightened. Consequently, theadjustment between the handle and the head must be made after each usethereof. Also, because the handle and the head pivot about an axisthrough the butterfly nut it is difficult to place the conventionalmagnetic retrieving tool around corners.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome theaforementioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmagnetic retrieving tool which is inexpensive to manufacture yet simpleto use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedhinge for a magnetic retrieving tool which enables the head to berotated with respect to the handle without requiring a loosening andthen tightening operation after each use of the magnetic retrievingtool.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedhinge for maintaining a fixed angular disposition between two elongatedmembers which utilizes spring tension to maintain the angulardisposition.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing amagnetic retrieving tool which comprises an elongated handle, anelongated magnetic member and a hinge means for securing the magneticmember to the handle. The hinge means has means to maintain the magneticmember at a fixed angle with respect to the handle. The hinge meansenables the magnetic member to be moved with respect to the handlewithout any adjustments.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic retrieving tool embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded enlarged perspective view of the hinge of theretrieving tool; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingwherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a magneticretrieving tool embodying the invention is shown generally at in FIG. 1.

The magnetic retrieving tool 20 basically comprises an elongated handle22, a magnetic head 24 and a hinge 26 for pivotably securing themagnetic head with respect to the handle. The handle 22 is cylindricaland elongated and includes a knurled surface 28 at one end of the handleto facilitate a tight grip about the retrieving tool.

The head 24 is elongated and is preferably comprised of a permanentmagnet. The head 24 is generally cylindrical and, as best seen in FIG.2, includes a flattened end piece 30 which is rounded at end surface 32.Similarly, the cylindrical handle 22 includes a flattened end piece 34which is also rounded at end surface 36. End pieces 30 and 34 eachinclude a circular opening 38.

The hinge 26 is best seen in FIG. 2 and includes, in addition to theflat end pieces 30 and 34, a pair of arcuate spring members 40. Theouter surfaces 42 of the spring members 40 are convexly arcuate and theinside surfaces 44 of the spring members 40 are concavely arcuate. Eachof the spring members 40 includes an opening 46 at the center thereof.The hinge members 40 each include a pair of projections 48 whichlaterally project from the inner surfaces of the end of the springmembers. Depressions 50 at the ends of the spring members 40 and on theouter surface thereof are producedin forming the projections 48.

The hinge 26 also includes a fastening member 52 which preferablycomprises a rivet. The shank of the rivet 52 is elongated and istelescoped through the openings 46 in the spring members 40. As bestseen in FIG. 3, whenthe hinge 26 is assembled, the projections 48 ofeach of the spring members project into the openings 38 of the flattenedend pieces 30 and 34.

The rivet 52 which is flattened at end 54 secures the spring members 40against the surfaces of the flattened end portions 30 and 34. Thus, asbest seen in FIG. 3, the insertion of rivet 52 causes both of the springmembers 40 to be flattened out and the inner surfaces of the springmembers 40 to engage the outer surfaces of the flattened end portions 30and 34 of the head and handle, respectively.

Since the inner surfaces of the spring members 40 are normally concave,there is a resultant frictional engagement between the ends of thespring members and the outer surfaces of the end pieces 30 and 34.Consequently, the spring members 40 act to engage the flattened portionsto maintain the elongated head at a fixed angular rotation to the handle22.

Because the frictional engagement is spring urged between the springmembers and the flattened portions, the frictional engagement can beovercome by manual forces to rotate the head 24 with respect to thehandle 22. It should be noted that handle 24 rotates about an axisthrough projections 48 through opening 38 in end portion 30. Similarly,the handle 22 rotates about an axis through the projections 48 throughopenings 38 of flattened portion 34. Therefore, in order to rotate thehandle with respect to the head member, it is necessary only to overcomethe frictional engagement between the spring members and the flattenedportion. After the rotational force has been removed, the handle and thehead are maintained in the fixed angular position with respect to eachother because of the spring urged frictional engagement by the hinge 26.

It should be noted that the axes of rotation through projections 48 arespaced from each other. This spacing enables the head 24 to be rotatedwith respect to the handle 22 at a sharp angle without causing a sharpangle at the apex between the handle and the head. Thus, at the hinge 26the handle and the head are spaced from each other substantially thelength of the spring members 40 of the hinge 26.

The double axis enables the magnetic head 24 to be inserted and passabout angles in pipes and through winding openings. Also, the retrievingtool can be used to reach around walls because the head and handle arepivoted with respect to each other about each of the axes throughprojections 48.

It can therefore be seen that a new and improved magnetic retrievingtool has been provided. The magnetic retrieving tool requires nofrictional adjustments after each use of the magnetic retrieving tool.The hinge enables the head to be maintained in a fixed position withrespect to the handle un-- less a manual force is used to overcome thefrictional engagement of the hinge to change this fixed disposition ofthe purtions with respect to each other.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What I claim as the Invention is:

l. A magnetic retrieving tool comprising an elongated handle, anelongated magnetic member and a hinge means for securing said magneticmember to said handle, said hinge means comprising a pair of springmembers arcuately shaped along their longitudinal axis and flat along atransverse axis,

said ends of said elongated members being flattened with said springmembers being provided, one on each side, an aligned ends of saidelongated handle and member and being secured together to flatten thespring member so as to resiliently engage the ends of said elongatedmembers.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said spring members each include apair of projections on their surface facing the flattened portions andsaid flattened portions each have an opening, said projections extendinginto said openings so that said magnetic member and said handle pivotwith respect to each other about the axes through said projections.

1. A magnetic retrieving tool comprising an elongated handle, anelongated magnetic member and a hinge means for securing said magneticmember to said handle, said hinge means comprising a pair of springmembers arcuately shaped along their longitudinal axis and flat along atransverse axis, said ends of said elongated members being flattenedwith said spring members being provided, one on each side, an alignedends of said elongated handle and member and being secured together toflatten the spring member so as to resiliently engage the ends of saidelongated members.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said springmembers each include a pair of projections on their surface facing theflattened portions and said flattened portions each have an opening,said projections extending into said openings so that said magneticmember and said handle pivot with respect to each other about the axesthrough said projections.